Electrical cord terminal



Aug. 39, 1932. A: NK 1,875,241

ELECTRICAL CORD TERII NAL Filed Jan. 13, 1930 Inventor; Joseph A. lclanK,

b MW' His Attofnc p Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH A. IDi ANK, OF LON G ISLAND CITY, N EW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRICAL CORD TERMINAL Application filed January 13, 1930. Serial No. 420,349.

The present invention relates to electrical wire connectors and more especially to cord terminals.

The object of the invention is the provision of an improved cord terminal which may be effectively and permanently joined with facility to the bared end of a wire or other electrical conductor.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my cord terminal with the end of a wire connected thereto by a single turn; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 with the end of the wire connected thereto by a double turn, and Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

As shown in the drawing, the cord terminal consists of a thin strip or punching 1 of sheet metal, such as copper or bronze, with parallel sides and round upper end in which is a hole 2 for engagement with a binding post or other connecting means (not shown). In the lower end of the tip a shallow notch 3 is provided, and extending in from opposite edges to the center are diagonal substantially parallel slots 4 and 5. The left-hand slot 4: is somewhat nearer the-lower end than the right-hand slot 5, so that their innermost ends are separated by an integral section 6 of the punching. Adjacent the left side of the punching and between the slot 4 and the upper end, there is a small hole 7 of a size to permit the end of the bared end of the core 8 to be readily threaded therethrough. The punched metal terminal is also provided with a coating of tin or solder 9.

The cord 8 is usually composed of a plurality of fine wires encased in insulation 10 which is removed from the end of the cord by stripping.

The method of attaching the bared end of I the stripped conductor 8 t0 the terminal 1 is as follows: The end of the conductor after having been stripped and fiuxed is passed a short distance through the small hole 7 and by a right-hand turn or twist is passed into the diagonal right-hand slot 5, then beneath the integral section 6, into the left-hand diagonal slot 4 and brought down into the notch 3 at the lower end of the terminal and drawn taut. The conductor is, by reason of its interlacing with the slotted terminal, held fast in the desired relation thereto and is thereafter permanently connected by mere application of heat by means of an ordinary soldering iron or other suitable heating appliance. On account of the relative thinness of the metal of the terminal, the heat is readily conducted to the solder at the back as well as at the front and a perfectly soldered joint is effected between the conductor 8 and both sides of the punching 1.

Where it is desired to make a more extensive soldered joint between the conductor and punching, the cord after its end has been engaged in the small hole 7 is, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, brought down to the left-hand slot 4 carried under the integral section 6, through the right-hand slot 5, passed over the section 6 again through the left-hand slot 4 and out by the end notch 3.

The diagonal disposition of the side slots 4 and 5 serves both to facilitate the entrance of the cord therein after the tip end has been entered in the aperture 7 and to retain it in place until the soldered unions with the punched terminal have been completed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cord terminal comprising a fiat strip of sheet metal having means at one end for engagement with a binding post, an intermediate aperture therein, and disaligned slots extending inwardly from opposite longitudinal edges thereof whereby the bared end of a flexible electrical conductor may be attached thereto by entering its extreme end in said intermediate aperture and wrapping the body of the conductor into said slots.

2. A cord conductor comprising a metal strip coated with soft metal and having means at one end for engagement with a binding post, a. cord holding notch at the opposite end, an intermediate aperture. and two disaligned diagonal slots extending therein from opposite longitudinal edges substantial- 1y to the center thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of January, 1930.

JOSEPH A. IDANK. 

